considering trees in development activities
TRANSCRIPT
CONSIDERING TREES IN
DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES
Andrew Lueck
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
Energy Fair
June 19, 2015
1. Why consider trees?
2. Preserving trees during development activities
3. Site design for new trees
OVERVIEW
Any site work that could affect trees
Construction
Utility work
Paving
Landscaping
DEVELOPMENT AND TREES
Legal requirement
Environmental benefits
Economic value
WHY CONSIDER TREES?
Tree preservation/canopy ordinances
Align with community values and goals
Tree benefits extend beyond the property line
~25% of Ill inois communities have TPO
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
Size requirements
Techniques to preserve
Canopy goals
Penalties for noncompliance
TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCES
Human/Social Benefits
Economics
Improve human lives and surroundings
Ecosystem Services
Benefit to the environment
Residual benefit to humans
TYPES OF TREE BENEFITS
Health
Economics
Social
HUMAN/SOCIAL BENEFITS
Source: www.itreetools.org
HEAT ISLAND REDUCTION
Shaded surfaces may be 20–45°F (11–25°C) cooler than the peak
temperatures of unshaded areas. (Akbari, H., D. Kurn, et al. 1997)
Reduced heating and
cooling costs
15-35% energy
reduction potential
ENERGY USE REDUCTION
Home sold for $7,130 more and 1.3 days faster on average
Street trees = adding 120 square feet of space
- Wal l S t reet Journal
Apartments with trees = less turnover
Trees can increase property values as much as 20 percent. Management In format ion Ser v ices/ICMA
PROPERTY VALUES
Regulating – improve physical environment
Cultural – nonmaterial benefits for people
Provisioning – benefits extracted from nature
Examples
Carbon sequestration
Watershed effects
Pollutant removal
Wildlife habitat
Agriculture
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Large Scale
Inventory
Landscape assessment
Economic impacts
Urban tree canopy
ArcGIS
www.itreetools.org
Individual Tree Scale
Appraisal
http://www.treebenefits.com/calculator
MEASURING BENEFITS
1. Preserve existing trees
2. Plant new trees to fit the site
HOW DO WE CONSIDER TREES?
PRESERVING EXISTING TREES
Planning
•Tree resource evaluation
•Suitability for conservation
Design
•Impact evaluation
•Tree management report
Pre-Construction
•Tree protection devices
Construction
•Implementation
•Monitoring
Post-construction
•Monitoring
•Treatment
Involve all stakeholders
Architect, builder, landscape architect, arborist, etc.
Can’t always protect trees properly if decisions already made
START AT THE BEGINNING
Planning
•Tree resource evaluation
•Suitability for conservation
Design
•Impact evaluation
•Tree management report
Pre-Construction
•Tree protection devices
Construction
•Implementation
•Monitoring
Post-construction
•Monitoring
•Treatment
Site survey showing all relevant features
Trees
Hydrology
Soils
Utilities
Existing structures
PLANNING PHASE
Size
Species
Condition
Suitability for conservation
Landmark/heritage trees
Transplant?
TREE RESOURCE EVALUATION
• Entrex – Canopy Cover
EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT
Develop suitability rating (Good, moderate, poor)
SUITABILITY FOR CONSERVATION
Tree health
Structural integrity
Species response
Tree age and
longevity
Cost-benefit analysis
Location, size, shape of buildings determined
Evaluation of development impacts
Drainage
Grading
Tree preservation plan developed
PROJECT DESIGN
TREE PRESERVATION PLAN COMPONENTS
Areas to be preserved
Tree protection zones
Tree protection zone barriers
Soil erosion controls
Staging and storage areas
Utilities
Protection specifications/goals communicated to all
Protection zone barriers installed prior to work (1’ per 1” DBH)
Tree removal operations shouldn’t damage trees to remain
Root pruning, other treatments
PRE-CONSTRUCTION
Planning
•Tree resource evaluation
•Suitability for conservation
Design
•Impact evaluation
•Tree preservation plan
Pre-Construction
•Tree protection devices
•Treatment
Construction
•Implementation
•Monitoring
Post-construction
•Monitoring
•Treatment
From soil prep to finished building
Arborist monitoring and reporting
Corrective measures specified/implemented for any damage
Periodic contractor meetings
CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Root cutting/damage
Excavation equipment
Trenching equipment
Burning/burial of debris
Fill soil over roots and altered water tables
Soil compaction
Mechanical injury to trunk, major roots, crown
Root collar covered by fil l soil
MOST COMMON DAMAGE
Often first point of arborist contact
Tree conservation recommendations revised if construction
activity has altered tree health/maintenance needs
Tree health monitored
Long-term tree maintenance specifications implemented
POST-CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Planning
•Tree resource evaluation
•Suitability for conservation
Design
•Impact evaluation
•Tree management report
Pre-Construction
•Tree protection devices
Construction
•Implementation
•Monitoring
Post-construction
•Monitoring
•Treatment
Did it work?
Can effects be mitigated?
Trees need to survive long term!
PRESERVATION EVALUATION
1. Site
2. Species
3. Location
PLANTING FOR BENEFITS
Source: www.jamesurban.net
Soils/drainage
Microclimate
Vandalism
De-icing salts
Water availability
Utilities
Sun and wind exposure
Clearance over
walks/lawns
SITE FACTORS
Some Considerations
Damage potential to
infrastructure
Maintenance potential
Root space
Competition from other
plants
Airborne pollutants
Hardiness zone
Pest management
Pedestrian traffic
Vehicle traffic/damage
Types of planted trees
Balled and burlapped
Bare root
Container
Tree purpose
Fruit trees
Aesthetics
Shade
Carbon sequestration, etc.
Matched to site
Look for defects
Market considerations
PROPER TREE SELECTION
Site
Energy use reduction
Runoff reduction
Property value
Erosion reduction
Wildlife habitat
Shading/temp
reduction
Food production
WHAT BENEFITS CAN WE PLAN FOR?
Neighborhood/community
Heat island
Air quality
Retail sales
Commercial rent
Crime reduction
Community cohesion
ENERGY USE REDUCTION
• Long lived
• Large trees
• Low-dense branches
for wind barrier
WINTER ENERGY USE
I-TREE AT HOME EXAMPLE
1- American hornbeam
2- Red buckeye
www.itreetools.org
Structural soils
Root paths
Pavement structure
TREES IN PAVEMENT
Source:www.jamesurban.net
Trees grow!
WHAT NOT TO DO
MAKE THE DESIGN RIGHT
HOA in Illinois–
400/1000 trees will be
removed after 10 years
due to space issues
http ://urbanext . i l l inois .edu/treeselector/search.cfm
http ://selectree.calpoly.edu/attr ibute_search. lasso
http :// lyra . i fas.ufl .edu/Nor thernTrees/
ONLINE TREE SELECTORS
LEED, Sustainable Sites Initiative, Living Building Challenge,
Green Globes
Attract tenants
Attract employees
Market dif ferentiation
TREES IN GREEN BUILDING RATING
SYSTEMS
Works hand in hand with LEED (shared credits)
Climate change, biodiversity, resource depletion
Defines sustainable sites, measures performance, elevates
value
2 year pilot – 46 certified projects
Certified by GBCI – of ficially launched June 10
www.sustainablesites.org
SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE
Cost:Benefit of planting, caring for trees
Environmental
Infrastructure
Real estate
SHOW THE ECONOMICS
Everything works together
BENEFIT INTERRELATION
Andrew Lueck
SavATree Consulting Group
(847) 508-8417
THANKS!